Strawberry plant named ‘PS-1.125’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘PS-1.125’. This new strawberry plant named ‘PS-1.125’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is primarily characterized by its medium red skin color, conical fruit shape, very good fruit flavor, early fruit ripening, medium to large plant, and long fruiting truss.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragaria ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘PS-1.125’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘PS-1.125’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2001 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry variety designated ‘PS-3523’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,447) and strawberry variety designated ‘PS-4634’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487). Due to the combining of the reciprocal seed lots, it is unknown as to which parent variety is the seed parent and which parent variety is the pollen parent. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot in Monterey County, Calif. in the summer of 2003. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in both San Joaquin County, Calif. and Siskiyou County, Calif. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Monterey County, Calif. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘PS-1.125’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate temperatures to produce a strong vigorous plant and maintain fruit quality during the April through November production months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘PS-1.125’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. Medium red skin color;     -   2. Conical fruit shape;     -   3. Very good fruit flavor;     -   4. Early fruit ripening;     -   5. Medium to large plant; and     -   6. Long fruiting truss.

The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new variety ‘PS-1.125’ is ‘PS-4634’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487). In side-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry variety ‘PS-4634’, ‘PS-1.125’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 COMPARISON TO THE STANDARD VARIETY ‘PS-4634’ Characteristic ‘PS-1.125’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487) Fruit color Red Ranges from orange red to red Fruit size Medium Ranges from large to very large Difference in shape Slight Moderate between primary and secondary fruit Expression of hollow Moderate Strong core Position of fruiting Ranges from level Level with the foliage truss relative to with to above the foliage foliage Petal shape Longer than broad As long as broad Size of inner calyx Ranges from same Ranges from same size to relative to outer calyx size to smaller larger

For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.

‘PS-1.125’ differs from its parents, ‘PS-3523’ and ‘PS-4634’ by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 COMPARISON TO THE PARENT VARIETIES ‘PS-3523’ ‘PS-4634’ (U.S. Plant Pat. (U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘PS-1.125’ No. 14,447) No. 17,487) Fruit color Red Ranges from Ranges from orange red to red orange red to red Average 1,829 grams/plant 1,577 grams/plant 1,689 marketable yield grams/plant Position of Ranges from level Above Level with inflorescence with to above relative to foliage Difference in Slight Ranges from Moderate shape between moderate to primary and marked secondary fruit

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘PS-1.125’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical descriptions which accurately describe the color of ‘PS-1.125’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘PS-1.125’ are between eight and nine months old. The photographs were taken in Monterey County, Calif.:

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘PS-1.125’, taken in the month of July 2011;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical leaf structure of ‘PS-1.125’, taken in the month of July 2011;

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘PS-1.125’, taken in the month of July 2011; and

FIG. 4 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘PS-1.125’, taken in the month of August 2011.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new variety ‘PS-1.125’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety ‘PS-1.125’ may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location. In addition, the characteristics of any parental variety or comparison variety included in Tables 1-9 of the present invention may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following description of the new variety ‘PS-1.125’, unless otherwise noted, are based on observations taken during the 2011growing season in Monterey County, Calif. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘PS-1.125’ dug from a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County, Calif. during mid October 2010 and planted between two and three weeks later in Monterey County, Calif. The approximate age of the observed plants is between eight and nine months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from three years of data collected from the 2008 through 2010 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color terminology where noted follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (2007).

The following tables 3 through 9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘PS-1.125’ in comparison to the similar strawberry variety ‘PS-4634’.

TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-4634’ (U.S. Plant Characteristic ‘PS-1.125’ Pat. No. 17,487) Color of mature fruit RHS 45A RHS 45B Red Ranges from orange red to red Color of internal flesh RHS 44C RHS 44C Ranges from light red Ranges from light red to medium red to medium red Fruit length (cm) 4.0 4.3 Fruit width (cm) 3.7 3.9 Fruit size Medium Ranges from large to very large Fruit length/width ratio 1.09 1.11 Ranges from as long as Slightly longer than broad to slightly longer broad than broad Calyx diameter (cm) 3.6 4.0 Average fruit weight 25.5 27.7 (gm) Achene color, shaded RHS 160B RHS 162C side Greyed yellow group Greyed yellow group Achene color, sun- RHS 185A RHS 184C exposed side Greyed purple group Greyed purple group Achenes per berry 441 437 Achene weight (mg) 0.53 0.40 Marketable fruit yield 1,829 1,689 (gm/plant) Predominant fruit shape Conical Conical Difference in shape Slight Moderate between primary and secondary fruit Band without achenes Narrow Narrow Unevenness of fruit Weak Weak surface Evenness of fruit color Slightly uneven Ranges from slightly uneven to even Fruit glossiness Strong Strong Insertion of achenes Level with surface Level with surface Insertion of calyx in basin Ranges from in basin to level Attitude of calyx Ranges from spreading Ranges from spreading to reflexed to reflexed Size of calyx in relation Same size Same size to fruit diameter Adherence of calyx Strong Strong Firmness of fruit skin Strong Strong Firmness of fruit flesh Ranges from medium to Medium firm Keeping quality Good Very good Distribution of red Marginal and central Marginal and central color of the flesh Hollow center Moderate Strong expression Fruit flavor Ranges from very good Very good to good Soluble solids (% brix) 8.0 8.3 Time of first flowering Early Early Time of first harvesting Early Early Harvest period Late March to Late March to November November Type of bearing June bearing June bearing

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-4634’ Characteristic ‘PS-1.125’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487) Plant height (cm) 28.9 28.8 Plant spread (cm) 36.3 39.1 Plant size Ranges from large to Large medium Plant habit Globose Globose Plant density Medium Medium Plant vigor Strong Strong

TABLE 5 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-4634’ Characteristic ‘PS-1.125’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487) Stolon color RHS 146C RHS 146D Yellow green group Yellow green group Stolon anthocyanin RHS 182A RHS 182D coloration Greyed red group Greyed red group Stolon anthocyanin Weak Ranges from weak to medium intensity Stolon pubescence Medium Ranges from weak to medium Attitude of hairs Upward Upward Average stolon Ranges from medium Ranges from medium to many quantity to many Stolon diameter at 3.5 3.4 bract (mm)

TABLE 6 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-4634’ Characteristic ‘PS-1.125’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487) Foliage: Color of upper surface RHS 137B RHS 137A Medium green Medium green Color of underside RHS 147C RHS 147C Yellow green group Yellow green group Number of leaflets 3 3 Shape in cross section Slightly concave to Slightly concave to flat flat Interveinal blistering Medium Ranges from medium to strong Leaf glossiness Medium Ranges from medium to strong Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm) 9.2 9.5 Width (cm) 7.2 6.9 Leaf size Ranges from large to Ranges from large to medium medium Length/width ratio 1.27 1.36 Ranges from longer Much longer than broad than broad to much longer than broad Shape of base Acute Acute Shape of teeth Obtuse Obtuse Serrations per leaf 18.3 22.1 Petiole: Petiole color RHS 144A RHS 145A Yellow green group Yellow green group Petiole length (cm) 19.8 20.2 Petiole diameter (mm) 4.2 4.4 Petiolule color RHS 144A RHS 145A Yellow green group Yellow green group Petiolule length (mm) 8.3 7.8 Attitude of hairs Upward Strongly outward Petiole pubescence Sparse Ranges from moderate to sparse Stipule: Color RHS 146B RHS 146B Yellow green group Yellow green group Anthocyanin RHS 61A RHS 58A coloration Red purple group Red purple group Anthocyanin intensity Strong Strong Length (mm) 17.4 18.7 Width (mm) 7.9 8.3

TABLE 7 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-4634’ Characteristic ‘PS-1.125’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487) Anthocyanin coloration RHS 182A RHS 182D Greyed red group Greyed red group Anthocyanin intensity Weak Absent or very weak Length at maturity (cm) 37.2 35.3 Position relative to Ranges from level Level with foliage with to above Pubescence Weak Ranges from weak to medium Attitude at first pick Prostrate Prostrate

TABLE 8 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-4634’ Characteristic ‘PS-1.125’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487) Petal color RHS NN 155C RHS NN 155C White group White group Sepal color RHS 137B RHS 137A Green group Green group Corolla diameter (mm) 27.5 29.9 Calyx diameter (mm) 34.0 35.7 Petal length (mm) 11.1 12.3 Petal width (mm) 10.1 12.5 Petal length/width ratio 1.10 0.98 Petals/flower 5.8 5.6 Sepal length (mm) 12.3 12.8 Sepal width (mm) 4.7 5.2 Sepal length/width ratio 2.63 2.46 Sepals/flower 11.5 11.3 Size of calyx relative to Larger Larger corolla Size of inner calyx relative Ranges from Ranges from same to larger to outer calyx smaller to same Relative position of petals Overlapping Overlapping

TABLE 9 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS ‘PS-4634’ Characteristic ‘PS-1.125’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,487) Powdery mildew Moderate Moderately resistant Angular leaf spot Susceptible Susceptible Botrytis fruit rot Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible Two-spotted Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible spider mite Lygus bug Susceptible Susceptible Flower thrips Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible 

1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘PS-1.125’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 